GRAND FORKS – The Grand Forks Children’s Museum has announced that Altru Health System is the naming donor of the new facility, construction of which is expected to begin this spring.
Altru has made a $3.5 million commitment, spread equally over the next 20 years, to the museum’s fundraising campaign, according to CEO Todd Forkel.
As the naming or “founding” donor, Altru has requested that the museum carry the name “The Grand Forks Children’s Museum,” according to the announcement.
“We really felt that this project belongs to the community and wanted to ensure that it remained that way, hence keeping the name Grand Forks Children’s Museum,” Forkel said. “The campaign around this project had the tagline, ‘Building This Together,’ and that really resonated with us, and so we wanted to maintain the integrity of that in keeping the name connected to our overall community.”
Altru Health System is the largest private donor to The Grand Forks Children’s Museum, said Katie Mayer, the museum’s executive director. The city, with its commitment of $10 million, remains the largest funding donor of the facility, which is touted as “a transformative community space dedicated to inspiring curiosity, creativity and lifelong learning.”
The decision to keep the name “The Grand Forks Children’s Museum” reflects the health system’s “selfless commitment to community identity,” according to the announcement from museum leaders. “By placing the city and its children at the heart of the name, Altru intends to create a legacy of learning and joy for families across the Red River Valley and beyond.”
Altru Health System will be recognized as the naming donor in the lobby area of the building, Mayer said. The museum will be located near the intersection of 42nd Street and 17th Avenue South.
Altru’s financial commitment is reflected in the overall current fundraising total of about $32 million, Mayer said. The campaign goal for the project is $35 million, which was reduced from $40.8 million, based on cost-saving measures and lower-than-expected bids from contractors.
“Altru’s mission is simple yet profound: making a difference for those we care for,” Forkel said in the announcement. “We chose to support this project as the museum embodies that mission by nurturing strong families, vibrant communities, and opportunities for children to thrive. Naming it ‘The Grand Forks Children’s Museum’ reflects our belief that this museum belongs to the community we are proud to call home.”
As Altru has chosen to reflect their naming in the building’s lobby, “we are continuing to work on our design of the building and the naming (in) the donor area,” Mayer said, “so what that area will look like is still in the design process.”
Altru’s donation to the museum represents a “huge milestone, but our fundraising continues,” she said. “Construction is a major step. And there are still very important costs beyond the building itself (such as) exhibits, the learning environment and operational readiness. … But this is a huge moment for us, and it’s going to keep our momentum going. So we’re not quite to the finish line, but we’re getting very close.”
The review of the second and final bid package with the museum’s contractors should be completed this week, she said.
“We are at the point where we are ready to go in the ground this spring, when our ground thaws,” Mayer said. Groundbreaking is expected this spring, possibly in April, depending on the weather.
“We anticipate opening the doors in late summer or early fall 2027,” she said.
In the last month or so, museum leaders have been working with a newly-engaged exhibit design firm, “which has been very exciting to get these new and fresh interactive ideas,” Mayer said, “and hopefully we’ll have more details and renderings on our exhibit design as we get through the concept phase of that.”
The children’s museum will focus on STEAM-based learning, immersing children in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics through hands-on, interactive experiences, the announcement said.
“Drawing inspiration from the region’s abundant lands and dynamic skies, the museum’s architecture and exhibits are organized into distinct zones: Land (first floor), fueling curiosity and ingenuity through interactive exploration; Sky (second floor), propelling imagination and inspiration to new heights; and Grow (vertical climbing maze), connecting the two levels thematically and physically, adding an exhilarating element to the overall experience.”
These spaces will be designed to create a vibrant environment where children can experiment, create, and discover, while celebrating both universal learning themes and the unique industries and resources of the Red River Valley.”
The children’s museum “is more than a building,” Mayer said. “It’s a promise to our children and families. “Altru’s generosity ensures that The Grand Forks Children’s Museum will stand as a beacon of creativity, learning and connection for decades to come.”
Altru’s commitment to the museum “also reflects the vital role of health care in building strong communities,” the announcement said. “Altru recognizes that health is not only about medical care, but also about nurturing environments where children can grow, learn and thrive. By supporting a museum that sparks curiosity and resilience, Altru is helping to strengthen the social, emotional and intellectual health of families across the region.”
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